Outline

What is decodeR?

Why puzzles?

Well designed games emphasize engagement, persistence, and resiliance in the face of setbacks. Games encourage players to act creatively, and collaboratively, to learn new content and skills, and to develop expertise. (Hayward and Fishman 2020)

Self-Determination Theory

Humans are naturally interested in learning and internalizing the knowledge, customs, and values surrounding them. (Niemiec and Ryan 2009)

This learning occurs most naturally in environments which support the core psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness (Deci and Ryan 2012).

Learners have the ability to make meaningful choices about their environment.
Learners feel skilled and that their skills are being developed by the presence of optimal challenges.
Learners feel connected to other people.

When these psychological needs are met, learners experience greater intrinsic motivation, which can boost their creativity, attention, persistence, and satisfaction.

Designing Gameful Activities

In video games, players learn simple skills in low-stakes contexts that are then gradually strung together in increasingly complex sequences and scenarios. (Hayward and Fishman 2020)

Thank you!

A hex sticker with a...

https://github.com/kbodwin/decodeR

References

Deci, Edward L., and Richard M. Ryan. 2012. “Self-Determination Theory.” In, 416–37. SAGE Publications Ltd. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446249215.n21.

Hayward, C., and B. Fishman. 2020. Gameful Learning: Designing with Motivation in Mind. Edited by M. Gresalfi and I. S. Horn. Vol. 2. International Society of the Learning Sciences.

Niemiec, Christopher P., and Richard M. Ryan. 2009. “Autonomy, Competence, and Relatedness in the Classroom.” Theory and Research in Education 7 (2): 133–44. https://doi.org/10.1177/1477878509104318.